Chapter 1383: Chapter 97: Reforging Nation and Home (24)_3

Winters stood up and responded powerfully: “Section Two, Article Ten: Various republics shall not engage in war with allied states unless having been invaded or facing an urgent danger!”

Colonel Skool listened solemnly as the junior officers recited the Alliance Charter, from his expression, others could vaguely sense the sacred feelings the founders of the Great Covenant held when they wrote these words.

“Alder Felter.” Colonel Skool turned his sharp gaze towards Major Felter, questioning sternly:

“Are you a soldier of the Republic of Palatu?

“Is the Newly Reclaimed Land an area owned and claimed jurisdiction by the Federated Provinces?

“Did you obtain permission from the Alliance Council and the Republic of Palatu?

“Or did the United Provinces Republic suffer an invasion or face an urgent danger?

“Or has the United Provinces Republic already gone to war with the Republic of Palatu?”

Colonel Skool’s tone became more severe with each sentence, striking at everyone’s hearts like a sledgehammer.

Although the colonel was not directly questioning them, people still unconsciously held their breaths.

By the time the colonel asked the final question, the Grand Council Hall was quiet enough to hear the flapping wings of birds passing by the skylight.

Major Felter had no words to respond.

He, too, was thoroughly familiar with the Alliance Charter the junior officers recited. But after years of adversity and hardship, he had long regarded the seven sections and thirty-six articles as mere empty words.

When the orders to travel to Kingsfort appeared before him, more than the mission of ‘defending the Alliance’ described by Jansen Cornelius, he considered this assignment as a step towards promotion and accepted it without hesitation.

Likewise, in facing the opportunity to independently lead troops into battle, he seized it immediately.

Guilt? Perhaps a little, perhaps none at all.

However, no matter the reasons, he ultimately could not answer the colonel’s questions.

So, he could only lower his head.

“Major Alder Felter.” Colonel Skool put aside his anger, resumed his seat on the judge’s chair, and formally initiated the indictment: “As an active military personnel of the Federated Provinces, by commanding troops, engaging in combat within the territory of Paratu, you have caused personnel casualties and property losses.

“You, along with the Provincial Army Command that ordered you, and the orchestrators behind the Provincial Army Command, as an entity endowed with public authority, have indeed trampled the relevant clauses regarding the armed forces of various republics in the Alliance Charter.”

Colonel Skool coldly asked: “Do you still have ‘nothing to disclose’?”

“I…” Major Felter hesitated to speak.

“Skur Meklen!” Colonel Nagy shouted abruptly, interrupting Major Felter’s thoughts: “Are you the only one who can recite the Alliance Charter?!”

Everyone’s attention in the Grand Council Hall was drawn towards Colonel Nagy.

Colonel Nagy turned to the audience surrounding him, as if giving a public speech, he also wielded the Alliance Charter as his weapon: “Section Four, Article Four: The Alliance must guarantee the republican governance of the various republics, protect the republics from foreign invasions, and should assist the republics in quelling internal chaos according to their parliaments’ or chief executives’ requests.”

Colonel Skool couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

“Major Alder Felter and other allied soldiers came to Palatu at the request of the Grand Council to assist in quelling chaos…” Colonel Nagy deliberately emphasized the word “quelling chaos” heavily: “What is the issue?”

“Quelling internal chaos is the duty of the Allied Army.” Colonel Skool immediately retorted: “Not an excuse for the Provincial Army.”

“Whether it’s the Provincial Army or the Palatu Army, they’re inherently part of the Allied Army.” Colonel Nagy countered: “Though belonging to different republics, the nature of the Allied Army remains unchanged.”

“Absurd! The Allied Army has long been disbanded. How can the armed forces of various republics and the Allied Army be confused?”

“The Alliance Charter does not have any clauses stating that the armed forces of various republics cannot be the Allied Army.”

The two colonels, one sitting on the judge’s bench and the other standing at the trial bench, fiercely debated back and forth, leaving the freemen in the tiered seating area bewildered.

…

In the Iron Peak County Seating Area, Nandor nudged the people next to him: “Uh… who’s winning?”

Richard from Blackwater Town stared intently at the debate scene: “The one standing has the advantage.”

…

Perhaps realizing that continuing to argue about the definition of ‘Allied Armed Forces’ would lead nowhere, Colonel Skool sought to change tactics proactively: “You claim Alder Felter came to Palatu ‘at the request’. Who made the request? And who approved it?”

Seeing Skur Meklen retreat slightly, Colonel Nagy seized the momentum and responded loudly: “Of course, it was requested by the Grand Council! Approved by the Alliance government!”

Colonel Skool pressed on sternly: “What evidence do you have to prove that the pseudo-parliament at Kingsfort made a request? What evidence do you have to prove the Alliance government granted approval?”

Colonel Nagy calmly countered: “What evidence do you have to prove the Grand Council did not make a request? The Alliance government did not grant approval?”

…

“The one standing is going to win.” In the Iron Peak County Seating Area, Richard from Blackwater Town suddenly spoke again.

“Huh?” Nandor was shocked: “Isn’t that guy just being argumentative?”

“This is a trial!” Richard stroked his stubble, confident in his assertion: “As long as he can muddy the waters, he’s already won.”